What Are the Commonwealth Games? A Simple Guide
The Commonwealth Games are one of the world’s biggest multi-sport events, bringing together athletes from across the globe.
But they’re about more than just medals. The Games offer a brilliant opportunity to explore countries, cultures, teamwork, and global connections in a way that really engages learners.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what the Commonwealth Games are, why they matter, and how they can be used to spark curiosity in the classroom.
What are the Commonwealth Games?
The Commonwealth Games are an international sporting event where athletes from Commonwealth countries compete in a wide range of sports. Held every four years, the Games include familiar events such as athletics and swimming, alongside others like netball, gymnastics, and cycling.
The countries that take part are all members of the Commonwealth — a group of nations that were once part of the British Empire and are now connected through shared history, cooperation, and partnerships.
They are often referred to as the “Friendly Games”, reflecting a focus on respect, teamwork, and fair play. While competition is at the heart of the event, there is also a strong emphasis on bringing nations together and celebrating shared connections.
A little bit of history
The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930, with just 11 countries taking part. Today, the Games have grown into a major global event, with athletes from across the Commonwealth competing on the world stage.
Interestingly, a small group of countries — including Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales — have taken part in every single Games since they began.
Over time, the Games have grown in size and scale, with each host city bringing its own identity to the event.
Take a look at this short clip showing what the Games looked like in the early years:
Question:
What do you notice about how the Games looked in the past compared to modern sporting events?
What makes the Games unique?
One of the things that makes the Commonwealth Games stand out is the balance between competition and connection. Athletes from countries all over the world come together, not just to win medals, but to represent their nations and take part in a shared global event.
The Games were also one of the first major sporting events to include para-sport athletes alongside other competitors, making them an important example of inclusion in sport. Events such as para-athletics and para-swimming take place alongside other competitions, helping to promote equality and opportunity.
The range of sports also helps the Games feel unique. Alongside globally recognised events, you may find sports that are less commonly seen in other competitions, such as lawn bowls, giving pupils the chance to explore something new.
💡 Did you know?
The Commonwealth Games became one of the first major multi-sport events to offer equal medal opportunities for men and women in 2018 — and by 2022, there were more events for women than men.
Here’s a more recent moment from the Games:
Question:
What do you notice about the atmosphere, crowd, and pace of the race compared to the earlier video? How does it make you feel as you watch it?
Commonwealth Games in Scotland
The Commonwealth Games have been hosted in Scotland several times, with both Edinburgh and Glasgow playing an important role.
Edinburgh hosted the Games in 1970 and 1986, making it one of only a few cities to host the event more than once. In fact, only three cities have hosted the Commonwealth Games twice — Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Auckland.
In Glasgow 2014, over 4,900 athletes from 71 nations took part across 18 different sports, creating a vibrant and memorable event. The Games were widely praised for their atmosphere and strong sense of community.
Glasgow 2014 was promoted with the slogan “Bring It On”, reflecting the energy and excitement of the Games.
The Games also feature a mascot, designed to represent the host and engage younger audiences. In 2014, the mascot was Clyde, a thistle-inspired character named after the River Clyde. For 2026, the mascot is Finnie, a unicorn — Scotland’s national animal.
Exploring the Games in the classroom
The Commonwealth Games provide a natural way to link learning across the curriculum. Through exploring the event, pupils can develop their understanding of the wider world, while also engaging with topics such as sport, teamwork, and global connections.
Looking at where different countries are located helps to build geographical awareness, while discussions around rules, fairness, and teamwork link closely to everyday experiences. Creative activities, such as designing a team flag or imagining a new sport, allow learners to engage in a more open-ended way.
Even simple discussions — such as how athletes travel to the Games or why rules are important — can open up meaningful conversations and help pupils make connections between what they see and their own lives.
One simple activity could be to ask pupils to choose a Commonwealth country, locate it on a map, and find out one interesting fact about its athletes or sports. This helps build geographical understanding while linking directly to the Games.
Bringing it all together
Events like the Commonwealth Games help children to understand how people and countries are connected. They provide a real-world context for exploring ideas such as cooperation, respect, and global citizenship in a way that feels relevant and engaging.
They also capture the excitement of watching sport, where athletes and audiences come together to share in moments of achievement, celebration, and pride. Whether watching in a stadium or from home, the Games create a strong sense of togetherness, as people support their teams and experience the event as part of something bigger.
If you’d like to explore the Commonwealth Games in more detail, our Commonwealth Games Topic Pack includes ready-to-use activities, discussion tasks, and creative challenges designed for first and second level learners.
